Chapter 34 #2
“Of course,” Angie said in unison with Kaden, crossing her arms across her chest and her stomach hardening. Finally, the Alaskan governor was willing to help. She didn’t help them during their last war with the mer.
Governor Vester rose to his feet and strode to his desk, picking up his phone. “Hello, Jena? This is Kevin Vester. Do you have a moment?” He stepped away and the Alaskan governor’s clear, assertive voice came on through the speakerphone.
“Hi, Kevin. What can I do for you?”
“I’m here with Angie Song and Mer-Prince Kaden. I called her in for a discussion on mer rights and building mer-human relations,” Governor Vester started. “I was made aware there was an attempt on the Mer-Prince’s life at his queendom off the Alaskan coast. Did you know anything about that?”
Governor Taylor gasped at her end. “Absolutely not and I’m horrified to learn of it.” The amplified sound of rustling followed and Angie scooted to the edge of her couch so she could focus on what the Alaskan governor said next. “But whoever committed this crime, if we find them, will be arrested.”
“We will keep you informed if we hear anything. Thank you, Jena.” The Alaskan governor thanked them in return and Governor Vester ended the call.
“That answered that.” He sat back down in front of Angie, the seaflute resting between them on the table. “Where does this leave us, then?” He directed his question toward Kaden.
“How can we help ease tensions on our end?” Kaden asked.
He sounded so diplomatic, so calm, and Angie wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around Kaden and hug him.
“If you could get the Mer-Queen and Mer-King to stand down and cease killing our divers, boaters, and other civilians, we could go from there,” Governor Vester replied.
“It won’t be easy, but I’ll try to do what I can” Kaden said.
Governor Vester didn’t tear his amused gaze from the flute. “Don’t you want to know what I’ll do on my end before you agree?”
“Oh.” Kaden sounded flustered. “Yes, what will you do in return?”
“Always make sure your negotiations are a two-way street. Something I learned early on in my political career. I used to be overly agreeable too.” Governor Vester said with a soft chuckle, and Angie caught a passing faraway glance in his eyes, as though he were reminiscing.
But he returned to their conversation in a snap.
“But I will work closely with Governor Taylor to find out who attacked you, as well as Angie, to make the seas a safer place for both humans and mer.”
“Then yes, I agree to uphold my end.”
“Do keep us apprised of your efforts.” He nodded at the seaflute, and Angie took it back.
“Kaden, I’ll talk to you later. Or did you want to stay on?”
“I’ll stay on, as long as you both need me to. Seems like there’s much I can learn from the governor.”
“I’m hopeful this will end well,” Governor Vester remarked, holding out a hand to her. “There were other things you wanted to talk about. Mer rights, and you mentioned you had some ideas on how we can help them and keep Washingtonians safe?”
“Yes.” Angie cracked her knuckles and pulled out her paper with bullet points of what she wanted to talk about.
She left an hour later after shaking Governor Vester’s hand, and once she was far enough away from the building where nobody could see or judge her, she broke into a relieved laugh and spun in place, her arms stretched out.
He agreed with her proposal to enact a ban on mer hunting and selling, and he said he would run it by their legislators.
Angie couldn’t believe it. The governor of Washington was considering her proposal, a civilian, and she broke into a happy run. The gentle winds were light and airy over her cheeks and swept her hair back. Birds sang and chirped overhead, and even the clouds had parted ways to showcase the sun.
A perfect day.
She pulled out her seaflute when she was near her car and addressed Kaden again, who had stayed quiet on the seaflute throughout the rest of her and Vester’s meeting.
“That went great,” she said, breathless.
“Thank you so much for talking to him. He wants to start the process to pass a law to ban hunting and selling mer. I think this will be a huge step forward.”
“I think so too. I think together, we can stop this.” He went quiet for a brief moment. “I will relay this to my uncle, and if he believes humans are doing their part, he may agree to pull back on planning war.”
“I hope so,” she murmured, starting up her car and resting the seaflute in one of her cupholders, leaning it against her center console.
“And Angie?”
“Yes?”
“Hearing your voice again is a welcoming light in the deep sea’s dark.”
An electric jolt ran down her arms and legs at his deep voice, so soft and full of fondness. “I wish I could hug you right now.” She rested the tips of her fingers over the seaflute before she started driving.
They would move forward from this. Repairing their relationship with each other, and the relationship between human and mer.
Her heart burst with adoration.